What are the precautions for growing chestnuts?
The chestnut is the most common nut in our daily lives, also known as the "maoli" and "lizi", and it enjoys the reputation of "king of dried fruits". Chestnuts are grown across a considerable area throughout the country, but because our country has a vast territory, chestnuts are divided into two different regional forms: northern chestnuts and southern chestnuts. What they all share, however, is that they strengthen the spleen and stomach. They also have effects such as tonifying the kidney, and for pregnant women they even have the effect of strengthening the body and bones. Today the editor will introduce to you the precautions to take when growing chestnuts.
1. Temperature
The most suitable growing temperature for chestnuts is 8-15°C, but northern chestnuts are mostly relatively cold-resistant, so the lowest temperature they can withstand is -25°C. The suitable living temperature for chestnuts is related to the variety, tree age and so on; the younger the tree, the weaker its cold resistance. Therefore, keeping young trees warm and protected from the cold is a key factor in ensuring yield. However, experiments have shown that chestnuts can still grow and bear fruit at a temperature of minus 35°C, but correspondingly their growth is poorer, the fruit is small, the yield is low and the quality is poor. So when growing chestnuts, the temperature must be controlled to the level suitable for chestnut growth.
2. Water
Chestnuts are relatively well adapted to a rainy and humid climate. Excessive drought will affect the growth and development of the tree and cause a large reduction in yield, especially during the rapid growth stage of the chestnut. If sufficient water is not supplied in time, it will have a certain impact on the growth and fruiting of the chestnut. Although chestnuts like water, they are not tolerant of waterlogging; if the accumulated water in the orchard is not drained in time, the tree roots will be soaked by the accumulated water, which affects nutrient absorption and causes leaf drop, and in severe cases the entire tree may even wither and die. Proper watering before maturity can promote fruit growth and help increase yield, but too much can also easily cause fruit cracking.
3. Light
The chestnut is a tree species that likes light and cannot stay in a shaded environment for a long time. The daily light duration must be at least six hours. If the six-hour light duration is not met, the crown will grow upright, the leaves will be small and thin, the branches will be slender and soft, and the yield will decrease. During the flowering and fruiting period, lack of light can also cause flower and fruit drop. If the chestnut tree is kept in a shaded environment for a long time, the branches and leaves in the tree will turn yellow and thin or even wither and die. So when growing chestnuts, be sure to choose a sunny slope with sufficient sunshine, remove the leggy branches, and enhance the air circulation within the tree.
4. Soil
Chestnuts are suitable for planting in slightly acidic soil. They can grow well in soil with a pH value of 5-6, and if it exceeds 7.2 they will develop poorly. The soil should be relatively loose; if it is too clayey, the porosity in the soil is small and it is more prone to compaction, which greatly hinders the growth of chestnut tree roots. So when planting chestnut trees, be sure to pay attention to the choice of soil. Even if they are planted in soil suitable for chestnut growth, soil management must still be strengthened, with more fertilizer and water applied, and so on, so as to ensure a high yield of chestnuts. Increase the yield and increase your own economic benefits.
These are the points to note when growing chestnuts. What requires special attention is the water aspect; chestnuts both love and fear water. They like water but also fear waterlogging, so if there is continuous rainy weather, you must not only ensure the daily required light duration but also drain the accumulated water in the orchard in time. Also note that in spring and autumn, these two seasons are often dry, which has a relatively large impact on the chestnut yield, so be sure to pay more attention to watering in these two seasons.